Chicago Archdiocese pays $35.5M in abuse claims

The Archdiocese of Chicago has paid nearly $35.5 million in claims to the victims of sexual abuse by priests since June 2007.

The new figures were issued in a financial report published last month on the Archdiocese's Web site.

They show that the Catholic church in Chicago paid victim settlements totaling $8.6 million in fiscal year 2007 and $11 million in fiscal year 2008, which ended in June. Since then the church has paid $15.8 million out to victims.

The church has paid $95.2 million in claims since June 2001.

According to the report, financing for the claims largely has come from loans and property sales.